The vibrant Timber Market in Tamale, a bustling economic hub in the Northern region was engulfed by a catastrophic fire late Monday night, leaving behind a trail of destruction and despair.
The inferno, which raged for hours, reduced the market to ashes, robbing countless traders of their livelihoods and destroying years of hard-earned investments.
Eyewitness accounts paint a grim picture of chaos and panic as the fire swept through the market with relentless fury. Flames, fed by the highly flammable nature of the materials stored in the market, spread rapidly, consuming wooden structures, stalls, and merchandise in its path.
Traders and bystanders watched helplessly as their goods and hopes went up in smoke.
Responding to the disaster, personnel from the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) worked tirelessly through the night to contain the blaze.
However, their efforts were hindered by significant obstacles. Narrow and congested pathways within the market made it difficult for fire tenders to access critical areas, delaying the response time and allowing the fire to grow uncontrollably.
Despite the frantic efforts, it took several hours before the fire was finally subdued, by which time much of the market had already been reduced to rubble.
The financial toll is expected to be immense, with preliminary estimates suggesting losses running into millions of Cedis. Many traders, particularly those without insurance coverage, now face an uncertain future.
